Burlington Council OKs public transit

Published: Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at 11:21 PM.

After years of study and debate, the Burlington City Council unanimously voted in support of a fixed-route public transit system Tuesday night.

Nearly 35 people spoke during the transportation public hearing at the council’s regular meeting, with all but one in favor of public transportation. More than 100 additional people didn’t speak but sat and listened in the council chambers, in the hallway and the municipal conference room.

“The devil is in the details,” Mayor Ronnie Wall said after the meeting. The council will begin to iron out some of those details – ranging from funding and determining routes to naming the new system and the color of the seats – in one of its August meetings.

Mike Nunn, transportation planning manager for the Burlington-Graham Metropolitan Planning Organization, said he appreciated all of the support from residents who spoke and attended the meeting Tuesday night.

This is another tool, council member Celo Faucette said, in Burlington’s bag of economic incentive and development tools.

“So, to you guys being in favor,” he said, “if the council votes for it, please ride the bus.”

Mayor pro tem David Huffman said this was an opportunity for Burlington to set itself apart.

“We pride ourselves on basic public services,” he said. “We don’t take a second seat to anyone (with regard to) recreation, fire and police. If we venture into something, we ought to do it with some quality and class to it.”

Council member Jim Butler, pointing to the many studies the city conducted throughout the years, said this was a well-researched endeavor with documented evidence of the need within the city.

“It is a complicated issue and one this council did its homework on,” Butler said.

After listening to the many residents who stated their case, it became starkly clear what the council must do, council member Bob Ward said.

Many residents simply stated they were in favor of public transportation or told stories of helping elderly relatives get to doctor’s appointments. Several pastors spoke, including the Rev. Larry Covington, in support of public transportation because, despite it not making a profit, there was a profit to the town.

Tracy Salisbury, executive director of the Open Door Clinic, told two stories of Open Door patients who would benefit from a public transit system. One woman who had diabetes stopped attending her appointments, Salisbury said, because the neighbor who provided her transportation said he wouldn’t take her to the doctor anymore unless she had sex with him. Another patient was walking several miles to pick up his medication despite having lost a toe to diabetes, Salisbury said.

Tom Mould, a member of a nonprofit group, said public transportation is the primary obstacle to people getting a job, getting to health care and, ultimately, having a viable life.

“You have already heard several personal stories, and there will be more tonight, I am sure,” he said. “I suggest that the few you hear, multiply that by 1,000 … I hope you do pay close attention to a very real problem our community members are facing.”

The town of Gibsonville has stated that it’s in favor of public transit, the city of Graham has opted out, and the city of Mebane has requested more information. The town of Elon has not stated its opinion on the matter.

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After years of study and debate, the Burlington City Council unanimously voted in support of a fixed-route public transit system Tuesday night.

Nearly 35 people spoke during the transportation public hearing at the council’s regular meeting, with all but one in favor of public transportation. More than 100 additional people didn’t speak but sat and listened in the council chambers, in the hallway and the municipal conference room.

“The devil is in the details,” Mayor Ronnie Wall said after the meeting. The council will begin to iron out some of those details – ranging from funding and determining routes to naming the new system and the color of the seats – in one of its August meetings.

Mike Nunn, transportation planning manager for the Burlington-Graham Metropolitan Planning Organization, said he appreciated all of the support from residents who spoke and attended the meeting Tuesday night.

This is another tool, council member Celo Faucette said, in Burlington’s bag of economic incentive and development tools.

“So, to you guys being in favor,” he said, “if the council votes for it, please ride the bus.”

Mayor pro tem David Huffman said this was an opportunity for Burlington to set itself apart.

“We pride ourselves on basic public services,” he said. “We don’t take a second seat to anyone (with regard to) recreation, fire and police. If we venture into something, we ought to do it with some quality and class to it.”

Council member Jim Butler, pointing to the many studies the city conducted throughout the years, said this was a well-researched endeavor with documented evidence of the need within the city.

“It is a complicated issue and one this council did its homework on,” Butler said.

After listening to the many residents who stated their case, it became starkly clear what the council must do, council member Bob Ward said.

Many residents simply stated they were in favor of public transportation or told stories of helping elderly relatives get to doctor’s appointments. Several pastors spoke, including the Rev. Larry Covington, in support of public transportation because, despite it not making a profit, there was a profit to the town.

Tracy Salisbury, executive director of the Open Door Clinic, told two stories of Open Door patients who would benefit from a public transit system. One woman who had diabetes stopped attending her appointments, Salisbury said, because the neighbor who provided her transportation said he wouldn’t take her to the doctor anymore unless she had sex with him. Another patient was walking several miles to pick up his medication despite having lost a toe to diabetes, Salisbury said.

Tom Mould, a member of a nonprofit group, said public transportation is the primary obstacle to people getting a job, getting to health care and, ultimately, having a viable life.

“You have already heard several personal stories, and there will be more tonight, I am sure,” he said. “I suggest that the few you hear, multiply that by 1,000 … I hope you do pay close attention to a very real problem our community members are facing.”

The town of Gibsonville has stated that it’s in favor of public transit, the city of Graham has opted out, and the city of Mebane has requested more information. The town of Elon has not stated its opinion on the matter.